MyBoston - Back Bay & Beacon Hill: May 2026

MyBoston

14 Elegance in Bloom

The Beacon Hill Garden Club keeps the neighborhood beautiful and raises funds to uplift other green spaces in Boston.

18 Fly Fish in Boston? Yes, you read right. Our insider tips will get you started.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE May in Full Bloom

5 BEST Gifts for Mom

SOCIAL Community Gatherings 30 MY SUNDAY Armani Thao

32 PHOTO OP Artistic Arrangements

From left: Katie Fagan and Sarah Perry, co-chairs of the Beacon Hill Garden Club’s 97th Annual Hidden Gardens Tour, with Sandra Gilpatrick, the club’s president

Photograph: Claire Vail. Styling: Tara West. Hair: Leanna Chaney, Stilisti Salon. Makeup: Jonida Luku, Stilisti Salon. Hats: The Designers; Leather Clothiers, Inc. Flowers: Rouvalis. Photographed at 5 Joy St., Beacon HIll—exclusive listing of Georgia Belafas, Corcoran Property Advisors.

MAY IN FULL BLOOM

mMAY HAS ALWAYS been one of my favorite times of year—a season of blooms, renewal, and the quiet joy of watching life grow. This month, we are proud to feature the women of the Beacon Hill Garden Club, a remarkable group whose dedication to beauty and community reflects the very spirit of the neighborhood. Its Hidden Gardens Tour is truly one of the most enchanting and memorable events of the year.

Inspired by my grandmother and mother, gardening has been close to my heart since childhood. Though they are no longer with me, their guidance lives on in every seed I plant. I even smuggled some of mom’s plants in luggage across the ocean and they continue to thrive.

Growing up in the Czech Republic, our family garden followed the rhythm of the seasons—from May cherries and June strawberries to fall potatoes. My sister and I helped daily, and every harvest was celebrated. That love continues today: My Boston apartment overflows with plants, and my patio is a small sanctuary of blossoms.

Grace Baldwin was one of my first friends

in the neighborhood, and I love to get people involved in our publication. When she suggested writing about fly fishing in Boston, I was intrigued. It may surprise you, but you really can, and Grace shows how the city offers a fresh, unexpected mix of adventure and calm. Follow MyBoston on Instagram (@mybostonmag) to see our upcoming fishing adventures!

At our women-run publication, we proudly celebrate remarkable women. It is an honor to share their stories and be part of a community that uplifts, empowers, and inspires one another. Enjoy your read and all the celebrations that May brings, from Mother’s Day to graduations.

See you in the neighborhood...

Renata Coker Publisher, MyBoston

www.mybostonmag.com @mybostonmag

MyBoston

Publisher

Renata Coker

Renata.Coker@mybostonmag.com

Editor and Lead Photographer

Claire Vail

editor@mybostonmag.com

Writers

Grace Baldwin

Krystal Clarke

Advisory Board

Collin Bray

Leigh Harrington

John Michael Kennedy

Lisa Mulman

Sharin Schober

David Sharff

Cindy Sullivan

Zach Kinnard

WAINSCOT MEDIA

Chairman Carroll V. Dowden

President and CEO

Mark Dowden

SVP, Group Publisher

Thomas Flannery

VP, Content Strategy

Maria Regan

VP, Director of Digital Media

Nigel Edelshain

Creative Director Kijoo Kim

Advertising Services Director

Jacquelynn Fischer

Operations Director Catherine Rosario

Production Designer

Chris Ferrante

Print Production Manager Fern Meshulam

Circulation Manager

Kathy Wenzler

Advertising Production Associate

Griff Dowden

MyBoston magazine is published by Wainscot Media. Serving residents of Boston, the magazine is distributed monthly via U.S. mail. Articles and advertisements contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers. Copyright 2026 by Wainscot Media LLC. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent.

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Community CALENDAR

Celebrate the merry month of May with live music, museum outings, garden tours, and other exciting events happening in Back Bay, Beacon Hill, and beyond.

MOTHER LOVE

Looking for a place to go with Mom this Mother’s Day? We’ve got a few stand-out ideas.

Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum

Celebrate Mother’s Day amid the heady fragrance of more than 400 lilac plants at peak bloom. A tradition since 1908, this free event is the only day of the year that picnicking is allowed on the extensive grounds of the Arnold Arboretum. The festivities include guided tours of the gardens and children’s activities. Take the T to Forest Hills station and walk to the arboretum. Free, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bussy Hill Road inside the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain.

Duckling Day Parade

This free, ultra cute, photo-worthy event brings the beloved children’s book “Make Way for Ducklings” to life. Kids dressed as the famous ducklings make their way from Boston Common’s Parkman Bandstand to the book-inspired sculptures in the Public Garden, accompanied by the Harvard Marching Band. There’s live music, circus games, a magician, and a reading station. The day begins at 10 a.m. with check-in and the parade starts at noon. Parkman Bandstand on Boston Common. Free with registration at friendsofthepublicgarden. org/events/ducklingday.

Museum Day

At the Isabella Gardner Museum, “Picturing Isabella” uses a lifetime of photographs to trace Boston icon Isabella Stewart Gardner’s complicated and evolving relationship with her image, fame, and legacy. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 25 Evans Way. Call 617-278-5156 for tickets. Meanwhile, at the MFA, the exhibit “Framing Nature: Gardens and Imagination” showcases favorites and previously unseen masterpieces that explore the garden as a metaphor for creativity and imagination. Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave.

Classic Beauty Classic Beauty

ANNA PETROPOULOS, MD, FRCS

May 1 and 2

Boston Lyric Opera: “Daughter of the Regiment” Boston playwright Kirsten Greenidge’s new English dialogue transports Gaetano Donizetti’s story to Revolutionary-era Boston, inspired in part by the life of Massachusetts revolutionary Deborah Sampson, who disguised herself as a man to fight for independence. This production is a patriotic toast to America at 250 years. Performances at 7:30 p.m. on May 1 and 3 p.m. on May 3. Emerson Colonial Theatre, 106 Boylston St. Tickets at 617-765-7662 and blo.org.

May 2

Wake Up the Earth Festival

Celebrate the arrival of spring alongside the free spirits of Jamaica Plain and Roxbury at this lively, fun festival dedicated to the rejuvenation of Mother Earth. A parade starts at 11 a.m., followed by live bands playing on a big stage. Enjoy dancing, food vendors, arts and crafts, vendors, and plenty of spontaneous joy. Take

the Orange Line T to the Jackson Square or Stony Brook stop and walk to the park. 11 a.m. to sunset, Southwest Corridor Park, Jamaica Plain.

May 2

Berklee Performance Center: Chucho Valdes and His Royal Quartet Legendary musician Chucho Valdes and His Royal Quartet pay homage to Chick Corea and Mozart, play American blues and Cuban folksongs with an Afro-Latin twist, and apply a playful, creative, and surprising approach to every selection. 8 p.m., Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Ave. Call 617-747-2261 or email boxoffice@berklee.edu for information.

May 3

Vilna Shul: Voices of Humanity

The historic Vilna Shul sanctuary is a magical place to experience spiritual music, connecting us to one another and to history. Enjoy the annual Voices of Humanity concert, a joyous and festive celebration of humanity through music

with the Zamir Chorale and the Boston Gospel Choir. You’ll be up on your feet as the musicians bring the house down with their spirit. Doors open at 3:30 p.m., and the concert runs from 4 to 5:30 p.m. The Vilna Shul, 18 Phillips St. Tickets are $25.

May 7

French Library: A French Lens on Art— Modernism Reimagined at the MFA

This private tour of the MFA in French led by Isabelle Slotine examines the revolutionary ideas that transformed art during the early decades of the 20th century. Discover a curated selection of modern masterpieces and get a fresh perspective on modern art, between imagination, abstraction, and bold new forms of expression. After the tour, join others for a drink at the museum café. Register at the French Library website. The tour will take place from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. Meet inside the MFA next to the Sharf Visitor Center desk.

May 12

Beacon Hill Women’s Forum: Fashion Show & Bazaar

Join the Beacon Hill Women’s Forum for its Fashion Stroll, Sip and Shop along Charles Street. This event showcases the latest fashion trends for the upcoming summer season from a fabulous collection of boutiques, hair and beauty salons, and other shops, including Beacon Hill favorites. For tickets and more information, see beaconhillwomensforum.org.

May 15, 16

Handel and Haydn Society: Bach and Telemann

Enjoy the unparalleled Handel and Haydn Orchestra led by Artistic Director Jonathan Cohen as they share their “consistently fresh and vital” takes on Baroque music. Embrace the warm comfort of Bach’s cantatas and his Brandenburg Concerto No. 6. May 15 at 7:30 p.m. at Old South Church; May 16, at 7:30 p.m. at Sanders Theatre. For tickets, call 617-262-1815 or visit handelandhaydn.org.

May 19

Boston Handbell Festival

Ring in spring at this free, once-a-year event that brings together five of the area’s best handbell choirs for an evening of massed and solo ringing in the stunning sanctuary of Boston’s Old South Church. This year’s choirs are the Back Bay Ringers, Merrimack Valley Ringers, New England Ringers, Old South Ringers, and the guest choir is the Shoreline Ringers. 7:30 p.m., Old South Church at 645 Boylston St. Free.

May 28

Boston Public Library in Copley Square: The Long Legacy

Join four Indigenous speakers for a discussion about the legacy of King Philip’s War, which left a long and devastating trail of destruction that echoes even today. Produced by the BPL and the Partnership of Historic Bostons. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., BPL in Copley Square.

May 31

Esplanade Community Day and GroundBeat Concert

Join locals for an awesome day on the Esplanade. Community Day offers family-friendly activities, free empanadas to the first 100 people (when those run out, you can buy them), lawn games, and 50 percent off kayak rentals from Community Boating, Inc. The day kicks off the Esplanade Association’s annual free GroundBeat Concert Series, which features artists and musicians throughout the summer. For more information, visit esplanade.org/events.

GET INTO THE

Groove

Boston’s newest listening lounge offers tasty comfort food, excellent music, and an awesome attitude.

BY CLAIRE VAIL

THE TERM “RETRO” gets applied to fashion, design, food, and popular trends that became iconic between 1960 and 2000. In other words, somewhat old stuff that fascinates and delights people who didn’t grow up with it and embarrasses people who did.

Retro Room, described by its creators as “Boston’s newest listening lounge,” capitalizes on the appeal of the fairly recent past, inviting patrons to step through the bead curtain and into a groovier, funkier, more tubular

time. The vibe is welcoming, and the layout is inspired by classic mid-century lounges, complete with real vintage furniture designed to compromise your posture. The decor is a garish kaleidoscope of vintage paraphernalia. There are disco balls, lava lamps, Rubik’s cubes and He-Man lunch boxes a plenty, as if the decorators raided the memory bank of some poor aging Gen Xer.

There’s also a neon-lit dance floor that invites guests to

young crowd, it’s grand fun at any age. Ms. Pacman arcade machines, dial telephones, and pictures of a cherubic Richard Simmons in his leotard may make old folks weep for bygone days, but that’s what the drinks are for.

The food is tasty, and exactly what you want: fish sticks, slow-cooked BBQ ribs, burgers, fried chicken, pizza, Salisbury steak—and TV dinners, which Gen Alpha thinks were curated bento boxes for the suburbs rather than another dismal note in an 80’s latchkey childhood. These TV dinners are actually great, and don’t signal the arrival of a babysitter.

CREATIVE COCKTAILS

enjoyed the evening’s musical selections immensely—mainly early Beastie Boys and a variety of old school hip hop.

bust a move, a serious temptation, especially after a few generous pours from Retro Room’s cocktail menu. A comfort food menu is served daily from 5 to 10 p.m., and the bar is open daily from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Rock on!

CHOOSE YOUR DECADE

You can choose which decade to revel in. The decor is mostly from the 60s and 70s, the food mostly from the 80s, the music mostly from the 90s, and the staff and patrons were mostly toddlers around the year 2000. That’s rad. While Retro Room pitches to a

Cocktails are fun and fanciful, with plus-sized options in disco balls to share with a friend or three. “My Heart Is in Havana,” a rum concoction infused with hibiscus, mint, lime, and bitters, came with the added bonus of a show, when our server lit the prosecco topper on fire, which was totally awesome.

Naturally, music is a big deal here. Staff members take turns DJing, spinning tunes according to their taste, which runs the gamut from Motown to Madonna. We happened to sit in front of the turntable and

Requests are accepted. When I asked for British New Wave (meaning Spandau Ballet, Thompson Twins, Bryan Ferry), the 20-something DJ sweetly explained they don’t have any Beatles albums—an inadvertently distressing remark. That’s ok, I can drown my mildly hurt feelings in a goldfish-bowl sized cocktail and pick at my Sloppy Joe, which is like the ones mom used to make, but better.

Note that the lounge’s entrance is accessed through another restaurant, Back Bay Social, at 867 Boylston St. If you plug in that address on Google, you’ll find yourself in the lobby of an office building scanning the directory in confusion (we weren’t the only ones).

Retro Room is super fun and laid back. It’s an excellent after-event venue and a comfortable alternative to the sleek, expensive restaurants that line Back Bay. Wake me up before you go go!

A stunning private garden from a previous year’s Hidden Gardens Tour Photograph courtesy of

Elegance in Bloom

The Beacon Hill Garden Club keeps the neighborhood beautiful and, through its famous Hidden Gardens Tour and Soiree, raises funds to uplift other green spaces in Boston.

iBY CLAIRE VAIL

“I LIKE TO SAY I came for the plants and stayed for the people,” says Sandra Gilpatrick, president of Beacon Hill Garden Club, an organization with roots nearly a century old and an everflourishing reputation.

Gilpatrick, a full-time financial advisor with her own business and a penchant for lush floral print dresses, has an extensive knowledge of, and passion for, the club’s mission and its 60 members—all Beacon Hill residents and gardening enthusiasts like herself.

Professional watercolorist Gertrude Beals Bourne founded the club in 1928, when Back Bay was steadily displacing Beacon Hill as Boston’s most prestigious

neighborhood. Bourne hosted members in her whimsical home in Beacon Hill Flats—the so-called Sunflower Castle, which still stands today. Other early members included Eleanor Raymond, an architect who created the first solar-powered house, and Arthur Shurcliff, an influential landscape artist who designed Colonial Williamsburg’s extensive gardens.

The club members’ gardens are celebrated for their beauty and are routinely featured in magazines and on documentary-style TV shows, such as “This Old House.” Each year, the club’s main fundraiser, the Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill Tour, draws thousands of visitors who come to

Bottom

A stunning private garden from a previous year’s Hidden Gardens Tour

admire these patrician plots, the homes they grace, and indirectly, the people who own them.

KEEPING BOSTON GREEN

The club isn’t merely a haven for wealthy horticulture lovers. It’s an active nonprofit organization whose members maintain prominent public green spaces in and around the neighborhood. These cultivated plots, which many may wrongly assume are preserved by the city, are in fact planned and planted by the club’s members.

For example, they replant the Charles Street post office’s window box each season (this March they added early blooming hellebore and ivy). They also landscape Codman Island, the small plot at the intersection of Charles and Beacon Streets, which features cheerful Montauk daisies that bloom from spring through October.

The club keeps the gardens outside the Old North Church, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year. A plaque acknowledges the work the club has done, with help from a grant from the Garden Club of America.

Gilpatrick explains that the spirit of the club’s mission boils down to science: biophilia, the human desire to connect

with the natural world, is an innate quality that all of us—even the most dedicated city dwellers—have in common.

“Humans are meant to be in nature,” says Gilpatrick. “We’re biologically wired for it. Being around greenery reduces your stress levels. Plants just make you feel better.”

GETTING ONE’S HANDS DIRTY

Qualifications for club membership include living in Beacon Hill and having a garden—one with real dirt, not just potted plants. Its size can be modest. Gilpatrick, who bought her home in 2007, says she has one of the smaller gardens in the club, which she estimates is about 4 by 18 feet.

The previous owner had planted some hydrangea and a snowball tree, which didn’t make it, and Gilpatrick and her husband spent years rescaping and replanting, learning as they went.

“Gardening in an urban environment is very challenging. There’s a lot of shade on Beacon Hill. I actually joined because I was struggling a bit, like, okay, what’s going to grow in this place? I wanted to learn more about

what plants would thrive here.”

New members must be invited by existing members. Through family connections, Gilpatrick met Anne Sullivan, a longstanding club member who managed her introduction. A neighbor seconded her. Gilpatrick dug in, worked hard, chaired committees. She became vice president in 2022 and president in 2024, a two-year term she’ll hold until June 2026.

Members are required to attend monthly meetings, participate in civic projects, and open their own gardens to the public on the annual tour. The

club hosts workshops, lectures and educational opportunities through the Gardening Club of America, which offers trips granting exclusive access to private gardens abroad.

Gilpatrick loves visiting gardens everywhere she goes. “My husband took me to Kew Gardens in England for a recent birthday, and it was marvelous. Here in the U.S., Florida has a lot to offer. The Orchid Society is down there. Fairchild Gardens in Coral Gables is one of my favorites. NASA works with them to see what will grow in outer space. It’s fabulous.”

REVEALING HIDDEN GARDENS

For the past 97 years, the club has showcased member gardens and portions of their homes during its annual fundraising event, the Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill Tour, held on the third Thursday in May. A decade ago, the club added the Hidden Gardens Soiree, a lavish garden party that offers a preview of a few of the gardens on the next day’s tour.

Both the soiree and tour are immensely popular, and tickets quickly sell out. Gilpatrick advises booking early and following the club’s Instagram feed for the announcement, which happens around Thanksgiving.

The tour is different each year, so repeat guests never have the same experience twice. Gardens range from modest to grand in design and

content, with some sporting statuary, fountains, and hothouses. Most are shaded, and many have quirks unique to Beacon Hill, such as the enclosed garden on Pinckney Street, a new feature on this year’s tour. Installed by Boston-based designer Ben Bungert, the garden is surrounded by brick, wooden latticework, antique mirrors and draped purple wisteria framing the entryway. The garden backs up against the Myrtle Street playground, and Bungert says the surrounding soundscape, along with a rustic water fountain, adds a musical touch.

“At any time of day, you can hear birds singing and children laughing,” says Bungert. “It’s a special oasis in the middle of the city.”

Most of the nearly 2,000 Tour attendees hail from New England, but visitors have come from as far as Japan. Because the date is close to Mother’s Day, many mothers and daughters have turned it into an annual tradition, and a source of joy for a lot of people, according to Gilpatrick.

Ticket sales for both events, along with sponsorships, create a seed fund the club draws from to award grants to local organizations that help preserve green spaces around Boston. Typical awards range from $500 to $5,000 and go to organizations that demonstrate they’re engaged in planting and

landscaping work that benefits the public. The club also gives larger gifts every few years to major projects, such as the Esplanade’s new welcome center.

Gilpatrick encourages new organizations to apply for grants via the club’s website.

“There’s so many things that can be done to preserve urban green spaces, and we’re here to help fund that work,” says Gilpatrick.

IT’S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

Humans in dense cities have always prized green spaces, but with real estate at a premium, especially in tony Beacon Hill, preserving such areas for public use is a constant battle. Climate and critters also take a toll—rats in particular.

Gilpatrick mentions a friend of hers, a fellow club member, who had her entire garden devastated by rats

the night before it was to be shown on the tour. The same has happened to Gilpatrick. Not long ago, she wanted native plants in her garden and invested in several expensive specimens from the Native Plant Trust, a botanical garden in Framingham. “I had some lovely Jacob’s Ladder and a number of other beautiful plants. But they ended up being a feast for the rats,” she sighs. Lack of sunlight is another problem. As is salt from the snowplows, which gets into planters and ruins the pH of the soil, killing the plants. Then there are people who fail to curb their dogs. “Please, dog owners of Beacon Hill, do not let your pets pee in those tree pits. The urine is not good for the soil,” she pleads.

Despite those challenges, gardening is meaningful work. Gilpatrick insists that the importance of trees for cleaner air, shade, flood management and beauty can’t be underrated. She quotes Lady Bird Johnson, a passionate campaigner for the National Park Service and the Highway Beautification Act of 1965, among other proenvironmental legislation:

“For the environment after all is where we all meet; where we all have a mutual interest; it is one thing that all of us share. It is not only a mirror of ourselves, but a focusing lens on what we can become.”

Gilpatrick enjoys knowing the club is improving the everyday quality of life for people. “I like to think we help our residents and our visitors breathe a little easier.”

Fly Fish in Boston?

Yes, you read right. Our insider tips will get you started.

BY GRACE BALDWIN

SSUMMER IS MY favorite season because I get to indulge my passion: fly fishing for striped bass. Though not many people realize it, Boston, the greater Boston area, and Cape Cod offer some of the best striped bass fly fishing in the world.

Unlike conventional fishing, fly fishing uses a specialized line to cast flies—artificial lures made from feathers, fur, hair, or synthetic materials designed to imitate natural fish food sources.

Fly anglers use a long, flexible rod to cast a line so it lands gently on the water, imitating the motion of insects or tiny fish. It takes years to become proficient at reading the water, casting the fly just right, and

developing the technique for fighting and landing a fish.

Striped bass tend to live in brackish rivers and shallow water, relatively close to the shoreline. They’re highly aggressive, migratory predators that often feed in dramatic surface blitzes or subsurface. This means you can catch a large striped bass on a fly rod while fishing from shore. The adrenaline rush of landing a striped bass on a fly rod is addicting.

MY ANGLING JOURNEY

I started fly fishing during my undergraduate studies at Colby College in Maine— primarily for trout in freshwater rivers. I quickly

became infatuated with the sport, waking up at 6 a.m. before class just to fish. My enthusiasm led me to found Colby’s first fly fishing club, which is still going strong today. When I moved to Boston more than 10 years ago, I began saltwater fly fishing for striped bass and loved it. I’ve since been lucky to fly fish for various species across the U.S. and around the world, including the Florida Keys, Louisiana, Mexico, the Bahamas, and Belize. I’ve also participated in competitions, such as the Invitational Ladies Tarpon Tournament. However, fly fishing for striped bass in Massachusetts remains one of my favorite forms of the sport.

FLY FISHING IN BOSTON

Many people are surprised to learn that there is excellent fly fishing here in Boston. I have had some phenomenal days fishing from the shore on Castle Island. If you have boat access, there are innumerable fishing spots on Boston Harbor, including near East Boston. In the harbor you will find other fish, such as bluefish, which are an absolute rush on a fly rod.

Outside of striped bass fishing, you can catch other bass and baitfish on the Charles River, especially as you follow it down towards Watertown. If you look for it, you may see fly

anglers casting tight loops along the Esplanade in Beacon Hill and Back Bay. Lastly, Brookline has some excellent urban carp fishing.

For me, there is nothing quite like fishing on the ocean and fighting and landing striped bass. Pound for pound, they fight hard. Technically, you can keep fish that are between 28 and 31 inches in New England; however, I encourage anglers to practice catch and release so the fish can live a full life. It’s a more sustainable form of fishing. Also, watching the fish you land swim away is an ethereal experience.

LOCAL SALTWATER FLY FISHING

For those interested in local saltwater fly fishing, here are some tips:

• Buy a license. Don’t forget to buy your Massachusetts fishing license. It’s very affordable for state residents. You can buy a season or day license on the Massachusetts government website.

• Don’t overspend on gear. Fly fishing requires a lot of gear, including waders, a fly rod, reel, line, and flies. You don’t need to break the bank for equipment! There are affordable setups for first-time anglers. Getting secondhand, consignment rods and reels is a great option as well. I recommend visiting Concord

Outfitters in Concord or Bears

Den Fly Fishing Co. in Taunton to help get you outfitted. While you can buy online, it’s always better to support local fly shops, and their personal expertise can guide you immensely. They may even share a few free fishing spots while you are there if you ask politely.

• Protect your eyes. One gear item I always recommend is a good pair of polarized sunglasses with low-light lenses, such as copper lenses, to see through the water. Costa, Maui Jim, and Bajio are my preferred brands. Eye injuries while learning to fly fish can be devastating. As an eye surgeon in training, I can’t help but emphasize the importance of

adequate eye protection.

• Check the wind and tides. Generally, it’s best to fish on a falling or rising tide. Wind can be a deal breaker for your first time fishing, so be sure to check before you head out. You have to think about the direction of the wind and which way you will be casting. Trying to cast directly into 20-mileper-hour gusts while you are just learning can be very discouraging. It’s like learning to ski on a mogul run before you have mastered groomers.

• Learn some moves. A key component of successful striped bass fly fishing is mastering the double haul. There are some phenomenal online resources.

COMMUNITY FLY-FISHING RESOURCES

Here are a few resources if you’d like to get involved in fly fishing:

• Trout Unlimited, Greater Boston: A national organization with local chapters, committed to conservation. Offers resources and talks.

• South Shore Fly Casters: A local organization dedicated to helping people at all levels learn to fly fish. Hosts some wonderful events.

• On The Water Magazine: A great resource for striped bass fishing, featuring a migration map, daily updates, fishing trips, and insights into the hype for New England fishing.

• Guides: For saltwater fishing, try Joey Manansala of Woozy Fishing (New England), Elliot Jenkins of Greasy Beaks (North Shore), Eric Kulin (Hingham). For freshwater, Harrison Anglers (Western Mass) is highly regarded.

• Annual Schoolie Tournament: The world’s largest fly-fishing tournament is held on Cape Cod in May. It caters to anglers of all levels, so don’t be afraid to sign up.

• Fly Fishing Film Tour: The Somerville Theatre hosts an annual fly-fishing film event. It’s a chance to learn about the endless fly-fishing opportunities beyond New England.

• Kippers Lodge: A fellow female striped bass angler recently opened a fly-fishing lodge based on the North Shore (located in Essex) called Kippers Lodge. The lodge offers stunning ocean views.

• Best Book: The best advice I ever read in a fly-fishing book was, “There is no substitute for time on the water.” That said, books can help. For a time-honored classic, consider Lefty Kreh’s succinct “Fly Fishing in Salt Water,” an introduction to saltwater angling by one of the most famous anglers of all time.

• Fly Lords: Started by Northeast native Jared Zissu, Fly Lords is one of the best social media accounts dedicated to fly fishing (though there are many). It’s full of wonderful tips, videos, and inspiring content.

Personally, I enjoy watching videos by renowned angler Tom Rosenbauer.

• Release your fish. Please release any fish you catch. Be sure to review best practices for removing hooks and reviving fish. If you want a photo, wait to take the fish out of the water until your photographer is completely ready. When you lift the fish up, try to keep it just above the water so if it slips out of your hands, it will fall right back into the water (not onto a rock, for example). Using your thumb as a lip grip is particularly

Left: A peak into Baldwin’s fly box, which contains shrimp flies, while flats fishing in Mexico

Photograph by Grace Baldwin

helpful for striped bass, resulting in the infamous striper thumb, the mark of a good day fishing. All this limits any damage or stress to the fish. When you release the fish to swim away, allow it to fully revive. Some telltale signs are upright fins and big kicks. Remember, the fish just ran a marathon fighting for its life while you were just having fun. Be sure to let it recover.

Why not give fly fishing a try this summer? It’s a marvelous hobby and an excuse to get outdoors!

Beacon Hill resident Grace Baldwin is an avid recreational and competitive fly angler and has published articles in various fishing magazines. Grace completed a degree at Harvard Medical School and is currently training at Mass Eye and Ear, specializing in ophthalmic surgery. Follow her @gracie_baldwin.

Kathy Egasti Owner/Project Coordinator

Michael Egasti Owner/Engineer/Builder

GIFTS FOR MOM

This Mother’s Day, give a gift that doesn’t expire on Sunday night.

BY KRYSTAL CLARKE

MOTHERS TAKE CARE of everyone else first, often without asking for anything in return. Mother’s Day is a moment to acknowledge that extraordinary, everyday devotion. Flowers and brunch are part of the tradition, and you can certainly observe those rites. But if you want

to go a little further this year, consider a gift that doesn’t expire on Sunday at midnight. These small, thoughtful deliveries show up again and again—reminding Mom each month that you planned ahead, with love.

FOR THE FLOWER-LOVING MOM

Rouvalis Flowers | Beacon Hill 40 W Cedar St.

I’ve never believed anyone who says they don’t like flowers. Not something you grab on the way home, but arrangements that are thoughtful, seasonal, and designed with intention. There’s something undeniably powerful about them. They brighten a space, lift a mood, and make an ordinary day feel just a little more special. Rouvalis Flowers has been doing exactly that in Beacon Hill since 1981. Its floral subscription brings

fresh, beautifully composed arrangements into the home throughout the year. And yes, you should still bring flowers on Mother’s Day.

FOR THE MOM WHO DREAMS OF PARIS

Praliné Bakery | Back Bay

227 Newbury St.

There’s something about a French patisserie that just feels more intentional. Nothing is rushed, and every detail matters. Praliné Bakery has built a loyal Boston following for its classic French pastries, from delicate macarons to refined tarts. With a Newbury Street presence on the way, the brand continues to grow its local footprint. Its upcoming subscription concept offers a rotating assortment of pastries paired with imported French treats. A small taste of Paris delivered monthly.

FOR THE COFFEE-LOVING MOM

George Howell Coffee | Back Bay

400 Newbury St.

There’s something quietly meaningful about knowing that each time you reach for it, your daily cup of coffee came from someone who thought of you. It turns an ordinary habit into a small, daily reminder that you’re loved. George Howell Coffee has deep roots in Boston’s coffee culture, dating back to Cambridge in the 1970s. The company helped introduce a more thoughtful approach to sourcing and roasting long before it became standard.

FOR THE WELLNESS MOM

SkinKind | Back Bay

274 Newbury St., Floor 1

After a long Boston winter, self-care tends to fall off the list. For many moms, it’s one of the first things to go. SkinKind’s membership model brings it back into focus. Monthly treatments turn skincare into something consistent rather than

occasional. It’s not just about how she looks. It’s about carving out time, once a month, that’s entirely her own.

FOR THE MOM WHO LOVES TO ENTERTAIN

Formaggio Kitchen | Clubs & Subscriptions 268 Shawmut Ave.

Formaggio Kitchen is a food lover’s playground. Its subscriptions range from cheese and wine pairings to curated specialty foods built around a theme. Each delivery invites a little exploration. New flavors, new pairings, and a deeper connection to the people and places behind the products. It’s the kind of gift that keeps things interesting. Something to open, to share, and to enjoy long after Mother’s Day has passed.

Krystal Clarke is a Michelin-trained chef and founder of FoodSaucy, a private chef service known for bringing bold, globe-traveled flavors to intimate dinners, retreats, and high-touch events across Boston.

LARA SHUQOM &

MARCH HOME SALES

Back Bay and Beacon Hill

Canine Couture

BOSTON’S CHICEST dog lovers made their way to The Fairmont Copley Plaza on March 18 to celebrate fashion and help raise funds for Blue Path Service Dogs at a glamorous canine runway show organized by Onyva Dog Spa and Revolve Consignment. Bespoke dog clothing designer Isil Ay Bruce of Lilco supplied the perfect canine outfits and accessories to compliment the gorgeous, curated ensembles from Revolve.

Guests posed, drank, and shopped during the festive cocktail hour with unique dog and fashion-forward retail tables and plentiful Cori Copley Coolers (the signature drink of the show).

NBC’s dynamic news anchor Priscilla Casper emceed, as models and their dogs made their way down the catwalk to enthusiastic applause from the crowd. The evening ended with a final strut down the runway and a big thank-you from the organizers for the great turnout in support of a very worthy cause.

Photographs by Claire Vail

Opposite page

ARMANI THAO

For this Boston creative, Sundays are dedicated to slowing down to enjoy everything the city has to offer.

BY ARMANI THAO

SUNDAYS ARE MY reset button—the one day I let myself move a little slower and really enjoy the city I call home. Living in Back Bay, everything is incredibly accessible, which makes it efficient to get around, but on Sundays, I try not to rush. I like to start my day a bit later than most, easing into the morning.

My Sundays always begin at home with coffee. I’ve become pretty particular about it over time, and I like to think I make the best latte, at least in my apartment. But if I feel like stepping out, I’ll walk across the street to the Prudential Center and grab a NOLA cold brew from Blue Bottle. It’s one of those small indulgences that just hits every time.

By late morning or early afternoon, my husband, Nic, and I are usually ready to head out for a quick lunch and a city stroll. Some of our favorite spots are Capricho Colombian Steakhouse in Brookline for Sunday brunch, Lanner

Noodles, Krasi, and Momosan at Hub Hall—places we always find ourselves going back to.

We never skip getting outside. Whether it’s a walk through the Southwest Corridor or over to the Public Garden, it’s something we look forward to year-round. In the summer, everything feels alive and vibrant, but even this past winter, with the snow, the city had its own quiet beauty.

Sunday afternoons are when we split up for a bit. Nic heads to Lifetime Fitness, and I bring my camera around the city, capturing photos and videos. It’s something I genuinely love, both as

a creative outlet and as part of running FWA Creative.

We usually reconnect around dinner time, choosing between elevated spots like Contessa, Sorellina, or Three 1 One Omakase, or something more casual like Peach Farm in Chinatown, or Yunnan Kitchen or Gary’s Pizza in the South End.

Armani Thao is a Back Bay resident and the Boston-based creator behind @ForkingWithArmani, as well as the founder and owner of FWA Creative, a digital marketing agency specializing in hospitality.

PHOTO OP ARTISTIC ARRANGEMENTS

THE MUSEUM OF Fine Arts celebrates the return of spring with the 50th anniversary of its beloved Art in Bloom festival, which takes place May 1-3. The event pairs art from the museum’s collection with floral interpretations created by New England garden clubs, professional designers, and MFA floral volunteers.

courtesy of MFA

Have a great image for Photo Op? Submit your high-resolution shot to editor@mybostonmag.com.

If you’ve got spring fever and are feeling like a move is in order, Peter Hill can make your real estate journey both successful and enjoyable. See, his warm personality makes him both easy and fun to work with. And his extensive experience has taught him the importance of offering next-level client service, so you’ll be well taken care of. With his vetted list of helpful resources, his in-depth knowledge of both Beacon Hill and Back Bay, and the support of his work family at the award-winning MGS Group Real Estate, Peter can help you find and feather a brand-new nest before your spring allergies kick in. And all you have to do is call him at (508) 353-9721. Call (or text!) Peter at (508) 353-9721, or email him at peter@mgsgrouprealestate.com.

If you’ve got spring fever and are feeling like a move is in order, Peter Hill can make your real estate journey both successful and enjoyable. See, his warm personality makes him both easy and fun to work with. And his extensive experience has taught him the importance of offering next-level client service, so you’ll be well taken care of. With his vetted list of helpful resources, his in-depth knowledge of both Beacon Hill and Back Bay, and the support of his work family at the award-winning MGS Group Real Estate, Peter can help you find and feather a brand-new nest before your spring allergies kick in. And all you have to do is call him at (508) 353-9721. Call (or text!) Peter at (508) 353-9721, or email him at peter@mgsgrouprealestate.com.